Card table rack



Aug. 6, 1935*.

w. R. KIEFER CARD TABLE RACK Filed Aug. 1e, 1935 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNI-TED" sLrATEs oiF'fFlcE lWillian Ray Kiefer, Rockri, 'nl'.

i Application August `16,

The invention relates to a rackfor supporting a card table or the like in-an out-of-the-'Way position on the back of a horizontally swinging door.

Most inside doors in residences `and particularly closet doors, `which afford a `convenient Aplace for storing card or similar tables, arege'nerally narrower than the table so -that the table cannot readily be supported thereon without interfering with the closing of the door.

A It is a primary object of the-invention, therefore, to provide arack for supporting a `folded table' on a horizontally swinging door ina manner so that the table willnot interfere withthe closing ofthe door eventhough it maybe wider than the door on which it is mounted.

Another object of the invention is to -provide a rack of the character described which supports a table wider than thedoorin alposition parallel with `and closely adjacent the 'doorwhenthe latter `is open so las'to permit unobstructed 'passage through the doorway andwhich swings the projecting'edge'of the table away from th'edoor 'in "closing so that the table will :not abut `the door' casing orv the' closet wall.' a

The invention also resides in theadjus'table character of the support 'whichpermitsi one' orf a plurality of tables'to' be mounted-onthe door and also lin the novel character 'ofi the `means 'for holding the table correctly positioned.

Yet another object isftoprovide -a table supporting rack of the character described *which :is easily converted to adaptit rto be attached to `4a right-hand or a left-handswingingdoor.

Other objects and advantages willbecorefap'- parent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the drawing-*illustrative of a practical embodiment-of the invention, and in which f' Figure A1 isa perspective view-of acard table rack, embodying the features ofthe invention, mounted on a door. The rack is shown withlthe `door in open'position.

Fig.2 is an enlarged detail Viewof thelinkifor 'swinging therack.

Fig. 3 is artop'planV view of a rack supporting three tables and mounted `on a door shown in open position. 1

Fig. 4 is a View similartc Fig. Shut-showing the position ofthe rack when the-door isclosed position. i Y

Fig. 5 `is a horizontal sectional viewi'taken'approximately along the line'5f-` 5ofFig. 1.`

Fig. 6-is a view'siinilarto-Figf. 4fbutfshowin'g therack mounted on a left hand swinging' 4door.

--FignTisa view similarlto Figdillustrating'xthe application ofthe lrack-toithe'door of a narrow closet.

irack showninfthe drawing for purposes of disclosure is composed of a substantially flat frame I0 intended'tolbe'seeured onlthe back'of a doorS-andhaving means for securing thereon in vertical'position one or more folded tables II of greater width than'thedoor. In order that the door may'swin'g to-closed position when tables of such width are supported on the rack, Vthe rack is mounted onthedoor in sucha Vmanner that one verticaledge of'thetables will be spaced from thefree edgenofthe doora distance suflicient to cl'ea'r'theldocr jamb while the opposite vertical edges -willproject'beyond the hinged edge of the doorlbut will-inthe closed position of the latter, overlap or project-inbeyond-the casing I 3 to which theldoorishinged. Thisis accomplished by constructing'the-rackscthatin the closed position of Ethedoor,-th'eiframie I0 will extend at an angle 4 to'-the'd'oor as-'shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7. While th'efraxne maylbe attachedina manner such as to maintainthis angular relationship of the table va'ndthe door-in-allpositions of the latter, it is preferred to move the rackrelative to the door asian incid'entto closing-of Vthe latter so that in thebpen position, theftables Will-extend parallel fwith'fthe door as shown `in Fig. 3 and thereby avoid obstructingfree passage through the doorway.

' -Hereinfsuch actuation of therackrelative to the door is accomplished by pivoting the frame I0 to the doorto swingabout a vertical axis adjacent the free edgeof thedcor and providing vmeans capable of Vimparting the desired movement to the frame asthedoor `-is swung from one positionA tolthe"Y other. Tothis end, an elongated vertical side edgei of th'eframe I0 is attached to the back ofth'e doorlnear-th'elfvree edge'of the latter byrneans of 'hinges `I8 widely spaced apart so thattheraekvwill provide the desired rugged support. Swinging. of'theframe in accordance with the movementsofthe dooris produced by a link I 9 pivotally connectedat one end to the door casing as indicated at A2li orto the wall as shown in Fig. '7, the other end beinglpivotally connected to the 7free edge of the frame.

Theconne'ction provided by the link I9 is adjustable'soas to obtain that swing of the frame which is necessary-for the table to clear the door casi-ng. Such adjustment connection is obtained byformingin a cross-member I6 a horizontal slot `ZIiadaptedto receivea bolt 22 pivoted on the end ofthe'link I9. Washers -23 spaced on opposite sides of the member I 6 and' a nut 24 threaded onto the bolt complete the construction whereby the link i9 may be attached to the frame at varying distances from the hinge axis and thus vary the swing imparted to the frame as may be necessary in adapting the rack to diiierent widths of doors and constructions of door casings. Preferably, the link i9 is bent slightly, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, in order to extend around the edge of the door when the same is in open position.

Means providing a horizontal ledge f-o-r supporting the table in vertical position from its lower edge is attached to the rack. In the present instance, this means comprises a-pair of U-shaped and horizontally projecting arms 25, horizontally spaced along the lower edge of the frame l. One leg of each oi the arms projects upwardly through an apertured boss 2l on the bottom member of the frame and is threaded to receive a nut 28 by means of which it is retained in the boss. The other leg constitutes a stop for preventing the tables from sliding off ,of the arm. Preferably, the arms 25 are frictionally held against swinging and thus may be swung into different angular positions relative to the frame according to the number of tables to be supported thereon.

For the purpose of holding the upper edge of the tables in against the frame during swinging of the door, a single forwardly projecting arm 26 having a depending outer end is employed, preferably being located near the center of the door. To permit the arm to be raised for insertion or removal of a table from the rack, the arm is, in the present embodiment, rigid with the end of a rod 3| extending through alined bosses 3E] in the upper and intermediate cross-members of the frame lil with its lower end pivotally and detachably secured to a yoke 32, the legs of which are guided in bosses 3d. A compression spring 35 coiled about the rod 3l and acting between the yoke and the adjacent boss 30 constantly urges the arm 26 downwardly against the upper edge of the table and creates the friction necessary for holding the arm in the desired angular position. The arm 26 may be lifted conveniently by grasping a handle 3l thereon.

Bosses St located similarly to the bosses 34 are provided to enable the rod 3l to be mounted in the same position when the frame lil is inverted for application of the rack to a right hand door (see Fig. 6). The application to such a door also requires removal of the arms 25 and mounting thereof in bosses 38.

The arms 25 and 28 and a stop pin 39 for limiting the movement of the tables toward the free edge of the door are covered with rubber or other tubing to avoid marring of the table nish.

In the application of the rack above described to doors hinged to relatively wide casings, it is merely necessary for the link i9 to be adjusted so that the table will clear the casing. l-Iowever, when the rack is applied to a door assembly wherein a wall is disposed close to the door axis, the link must be adjusted so as to throw the free edge of the table farther away from the door as the latter is closed thereby clearing the wall.

I claim as my invention:

l. A rack for mounting on the back of a horizontally swinging door a folded table of a width greater than the door comprising a frame secured to the back of the door and providing a horizontal support mounted on the back of the door for supporting the table in vertical position and means attached to said frame and acting, when the door is in closed position, to position one vertical side edge of the table adjacent the 4free edge of the door and to space the opposite edge a distance from the hinged edge oi the door sumcient to clear the casing to which the door is hinged or an adjacent wall when the door is closed.

A rack for mounting on the back of a horizontal swinging door a folded table of a width greater than the door comprising, a frame mounted on the back of a door and supporting the entire weight of said table, and means acting when the door is closed to position the table at an angle to the door with one vertical side edge disposed within the connes of the door and the opposite vertical side edge projecting beyond the hinged edge of the door.

3. A rack for mounting on the back of a horizontally swinging door a folded table of a width greater than the door comprising, a frame of a width narrower than the door secured to the back thereof and providing a horizontal support for sustaining the weight ci said table when disposed alongside of the door, and means cperativeiy connected to said frame and positioning the table with one vertical side edge disposed close to the door adjacent thefree edge thereof and the other side edgeprojected beyond and spaced from the hinged edge of the door when the latter is in closed position.

4. A rack for mounting on the back of a horizontally swinging door a folded table of a width greater than the door comprising a frame pivoted on the back of the door to swing relative thereto about', a vertical axis disposed adjacent the free edge of the door, means on said frame for supporting the table in vertical position alongside of the door when the latter is open, and means acting on said frame automatically in the closing of the door to move thev free edge of said frame away from the hinged edge of the door.

5. A rack for supporting upon the back of a door a folded table wider than the door comprising a frame, means carried by the frame for supporting the table thereon in vertical position, said frame being swingably mounted on said door to support lthe table with one Vertical edge projecting beyond the hinged edge of the door, and means operable as an incident to the opening of the door to swing said frame to and position said table substantially parallel with the door and operable as an incident to the closing of the door Ito swing the frame away from the hinged edge of the door so that the projecting edge of the table will clear the door casing.

6. A rack for supporting on the back of a door a table wider than the door comprising, a frame hinged at one vertical edge near the free edge of the door and having the opposite end free lto swing toward and away from the hinged edge of the door, means for supporting a table on the frame with one edge projecting beyond the hinged edge ofthe door, and a link connected at one end to a xed pivot adjacent the hinge axis of the door and at the other end to the free end of the frame and operable to swing the frame from a position substantially parallel with the door when the door is open to a position at an angle with the door when the door is closed.

'l'. A rack for supporting on the back of a door a table wider than the door comprising, a frame hinged at one vertical edge near the free edge of the door and having the opposite end free to swing toward and away from the hinged edge of the door, means for supporting a table on the frame with one edge projecting beyond the hinged edge of the door, a link connected at one end to a xed pivot adjacent the hinge axis of the door and at the other end to the free end of the frame and operable to swing the frame from a position substantially parallel with the door when the door is open to a position at an angle with the door when the door is closed, the connection between the link and the frame being adjustable along the frame toward and from the pivotal axis of the latter whereby to vary the movement imparted to the frame in opening and closing of the door.

8. A card table supporting rack to be mounted on a door comprising a frame mounted on the door in vertical position and means for securing a table to the frame comprising a pair of arms projecting from the lower edge of the frame for supporting a table in vertical position from its lower edge and a retaining arm overlying the upper edge of the table to hold such edge against Ithe frame, said arms being pivoted on the frame to swing horizontally whereby to adapt the rack for supporting one or a plurality of tables.

9. A rack for supporting one or more folded card tables on the back of a door comprising a frame adapted to lie against and be secured from the back of the door, and a pair of arms mounted on said frame and projecting horizontally away from the frame for supporting a table from its lower edge, said arms having outer upturned ends adjustable toward and away from the frame whereby one or 'more tables may be accommodated and held in xed relation to the frame.

l0. A rack for supporting on the back of a door a table wider than the door comprising, a frame hinged at one vertical edge near the free edge of the door and having Ithe opposite end free to swing toward and away from the hinged edge of the door, means for supporting a table on the frame with one edge projecting beyond the hinged edge ofv the door, and a link having one end pivotally connected to the free edge of said frame, the intermediate portion bent and extending around the hinged edge of the door and the 0pposite end pivoted to a xed point adjacent the hinge axis of the door.

11. A rack for supporting a folded card table on the back of a horizontally swingable door cornprising, in combination, a frame lying against and secured to the door on the back thereof and mounted thereon in a predetermined relation with respect to the hinged edge of the door, and a structurally separate member mountable on said frame interchangeably in ltwo different positions according to which side edge the door is hinged from,` said member providing a horizontal support projecting from said frame away from the door and adapted to sustain the weight of said table.

WILLIAM RAY KIEFER. 

